Sydney – Former Springboks flyhalf Andre Pretorius believes he will learn just as much from James O’Connor as the teen sensation will learn from him during the next Super 14 season.
Pretorius, a veteran of 31 Tests with South Africa, was lured to the Force as the franchise’s marquee international recruit to plug the giant hole left by Matt Giteau.
O’Connor, 19, is one of the world’s most exciting youngsters and has already established himself in the Wallabies’ set-up, impressing at fullback after making a name for himself at the Force at inside centre.
Pretorius, 30, is at the tail-end of his career and said he couldn’t wait to link up with O’Connor at the Force to start swapping ideas.
“Being as young as he is I’ve experienced a lot more on the field than he has, but I promise you he will have a couple of ideas that I will be writing down in a book as well,” Pretorius said.
“You’ve got a guy at 19 who’s a Wallaby already, how do you mentor him?
“For me it’s using what I’ve got to make him as good as he can be.
“Just the talent and exuberance he brings to the field and the spontaneous nature of being so young; it’s going to rub off on a 30-year-old that’s for sure.”
Force coach John Mitchell said Pretorius’ experience at both international and domestic level would prove crucial to the Force’s chances of success in 2010.
“It’s not the benefits of that experience during good times, it’s the benefits of that during adversity and tough times,” Mitchell said.
“And this is a tough competition and you need real good mental strength and experienced players in key positions.”
Mitchell said Pretorius’ long kicking game would provide the Force with a crucial attacking weapon.
“The ELVs are no longer with us, we’ve got global law and in many ways Andre will suit global law,” he said.
“He’s got a very long kicking game and can dictate field position in that particular area.”
While O’Connor is yet to re-sign with the Force for the upcoming season, Mitchell said the Wallaby had committed to staying in Perth.
“Our Force component (of the contract) has been sorted for some time, what people don’t understand is that it’s the ARU (Australian Rugby Union) detail that needs to be sorted,” he said.
ok guys
does anyone know whether the boks had any feedback on the scrumming issue from last weekends game?
(now where’s all that guys with “sources close to the camp” 😉 when you need them!!)
hehehe
oops, skuus tog
….
porselein-jan?
😳
The FIRST thing Yo-yo must learn from O’Conner is how not to be a sick-note…
I must wonder how many games Petoors will actually play next year!
@Ex Player – I’m very happy force got to him before Rassie did.
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@Ex Player – WP buy old talented players not “old doctors note booked of for 3 months players…”
they must have got him at a half price bargain. but to be fair to him his injuries really got the better of him. he was ok at the beginning of jw reign but if jake had taken him to wc we would have been farked.
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SES gaste!
Die RT Tavern se gastekamer raak nouvol, bedompig en benoud….
Fantastic move for Pretorius. I would back him to have a great S14 season next year.
And Perth is a Great Place.
@funkyzoo –
Not so sure about that…he will probably only play 3 games. He sucked at the lions this year. I use to rate him, not anymore.
@Pietman –
Wonder of daar n koue windjie in die gastekamer is?
Supa ! 🙂
@Supa Die Bloubul – I totally agree I think it is a waste of time for Force to even contract him!! O’Connor will outshine him and guaranteed Pretorius will be parking on the bench with an “injury” in no time!!!
@Sharks_Gal –
Well said. I mean, he gets injured on a airplane?!!
Pretorius will learn some rugby from O’Connor. O’Connor will learn nothing from Pretorius… Well maybe he’ll drop a pass behind the goal line, or miss a drop-goal with an overlap…
@Supa Die Bloubul – Guys in the sunset of their careers need a new challenge to reinvigorate them. He’s a very good player that needs a new challenge, and the Force may be it. He has the chance to blow away some cobwebs and really get stuck in. It’s not a direct comparison, but Jonny Wilkinson (also very injury prone) has shone so far in France.
He will fit in there nicely as conditions are not as harsh there as it is here in Souff Efrika.
@Scrumsaam – You bought Joe Van Niekerk.
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